Joe Thornton looks to play one year, maybe more.
Tom Gulitti of NHL.com: Again, Thornton reiterated he wanted to play at least one more year with the San Jose Sharks.
“We’ll talk. We’ll sit down,” Thornton said. “I’ll sit down with and and and figure something out. My body feels great, and it’s going to be the first time in a long time I don’t have to rehab in the summer, so I’m excited for that.”
Joe Thornton wants to play for San Jose only so it’s about coming up with a dollar amount and one-year term. That’s it.
St. Louis must be patient with free agents amid new reality
Nicholas Cotsonika of NHL.com: Winning the Stanley Cup is great but St. Louis knows the band is not all coming back.
“We’d like to bring as much of the band back together (as possible), but we understand that the whole band’s not coming back,” general manager Doug Armstrong said at NHL Awards Media Day on Tuesday.
Again, Jordan Binnington remains the biggest piece of the puzzle along with Pat Maroon and Carl Gunnarsson.
Binnington is an RFA while the other two are unrestricted come July 1st if they are not signed. This is not like the Joe Thornton situation. It will take time but Doug Armstrong expects to quality all RFA’s. After that, it’s about getting through the draft and to the free agent window.
Cap crunch may hurt Arizona of all teams again.
Craig Morgan of The Athletic: The expected lower salary cap crimps the Arizona Coyotes and what they can do. It is from a standpoint of other teams being overly cautious until a number comes out.
With that number not likely due out until Saturday, trades get pushed to next week probably. This means a frenzied level of activity all while teams can interview free agents.
John Chayka’s best chance to improve Arizona is by trade. The draft will help but a lot of Arizona’s core prospects are or will be up with the big club. Ultimately, it will be vital for Chayka to remain disciplined while striking quickly if need be.